Lawn rake



Feb. 26, 1952 A. J. zE'MAN 2 SHEETS--SHEET l Filed April 29, 1949 VENTOR. ARTHUR JZEMAN.

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ATTORNEYS.

A. i.jzEMpJu LAWN RAKE Feb. 26, 1952 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2 FiledApril 29, 1949 INVENTOR. ARTHUR J. ZEMAN.

gia/az. TORNEYS.

Patented Feb. 26, 1952 UNITED s'rATs/s OFFCE.

This invention. relates to improvements in` lawn rakes of the type that are designed for use in a manner similar to that of a broom.

One of the objects of the invention is to provide a rake which is constructed toaccommodate the ready assembly or removal of the tines.

Another object of the invention is to provide a tine which is formed to prevent undue tearing of the sod or roots and tendrils of delicate plants when the rake is manipulated in a vigorous or /f careless manner.

Another object of the invention is to provide a, tine which is constructed to resist the torsional strains imposed thereon during the operation of the rake.

Another object of the invention is to provide a tine assembly which is designed to facilitate the ready renewal of broken or mutilated tines without the use of tools.

Another object of the invention is to provide a tine holder which will accommodate the assembly of the centermost tines in the rake without complete removal of the tine-locking plates or keepers.

Other objects and advantages more or less ancillary to the foregoing, and the manner in which all the various objects are realized, will appear in the following description, which, considered in connection with the accompanying drawings, sets forth the preferred embodiment l of the invention.

In the drawing:

Fig. l is a view in perspective of the improved rake;

Fig. 2 is a front elevational view thereof, a portion of the tine holder being broken away and shown in section in the interest of clarity;

Fig. 3 is a side elevational View of one of the tines, shown upon an enlarged scale;

Fig. 4 is a front elevational view thereof;

Fig. 5 is a vertical sectional View through the central portion of the rake, shown on a somewhat enlarged scale;

Fig. 6 is an enlarged front elevational view of one of the members of the handle support;

Fig. 7 is a sectional view of a modified form of the rake tine assembly, shown on an enlarged scale;

Fig. 8 is a sectional View of another modified form of one of the reinforced tines and the associated parts of the rake;

Fig. 9 is an enlarged sectional view of a fragmentary portion of the rake illustrating the structure shown in Fig. 7;

Fig. 10 is a side elevational viewof the tine illustrated in Fg- 3; and,

Fig. 11 is .an enlarged transverse section taken on a plane indicated by the line I I-II in Fig. 2.

Referring first to Fig. 1, the rake comprises a tine-supporting head I0 having a plurality of removable tines clamped therein, a fabricated steel socket II welded or otherwise aiiiXed to the central portion thereof, and a handle I2 mounted in the socket. The head III comprises generally a sheet metal plate I3 formed with the top and bottom edges thereof folded `inwardly to define channel sections I5 and I6. The bent portion or web of the channel I5 is formed with spaced openings I'I therein for the reception of the shanks of the tines I8, and the upper portion of the plate I3 adjacent the channel I6 is formed `with aligned openings I9 for the reception of the i shouldered end portions of the tines. As

illustrated in Figs. 3, 4, and 5, the upper ends of the tines are bent at right angles to form the shoulders or tongues 20 which are seated in the openings I9 with the free ends thereof protruding slightly beyond the outer face of the rear wall of the plate I3. In the embodiment illustrated in Figs. 'l and 9, the strips from which the tines are formed are looped adjacent their ends to provide shoulders 2l adapted for seated engagement in the openings I9 with the ends 23 of the strips disposed within the upper channel I6.

In assembly the tines are inserted in the openings I'I and pulled downwardly until the shouldered portions 20 or 2| thereof may be seated in the openings I9; thereafter slidable plates or keepers 22 are inserted in the ends of the channels l5 and I6 over the faces of the portions of the tines encompassed by the channels, then forced inwardly into abutting relation with each other. The keeper 22 may be formed from a single plate,l but, as shown, is divided in order to minimize the retractive movement thereof when it is desired to replace the times in the central portion of the rake. The channel sections I5 and I6 are constructed to eiect the snug engagement and frictional retention of the slides or keepers 22 with the contiguous faces of the tines. If desired, however, a spring latch 2G, such as illustrated in Fig. l1, may be employed to safeguard accidental displacement of the keepers during the operation of the rake.

The tines are preferably formed with the free ends thereof folded back upon themselves to provide rounded dull end sections as illustrated in Figs. 3, 5, and 7, and certain of the tines, such as those disposed in the ends of the head Ill, may be formed with the major portion of the strip folded back upon itself to form the rounded end sections and a reinforced body section 25, as

departing from the scope Y 3 illustrated in Figs. 8 and 10'. In the latter case the end portions of the outer ends of the channel I5 may be flared outwardly to compensate for the additional thickness of the laminated tines.

In light of the foregoing it will be recognized that the rounded and dull ends of the tines will` prevent undue tearing of the sod when the rakeV invention may be completely set forth, it is to,l

be understood that the specic tern/linolcg;TV is not intended .to be restrictive or conning, and

that various rearrangements of parts and modications of detail may be resorted to without or spirit of the invention as herein claimed.

I claim:

handle affixed to the-central upper edge thereof, channel sections'n the upper and lower edges of the plate,I tle lower channel and the portion of the/plate intermediate the upper and lower channels having spaced aligned openings therein, tines mounted in the openings in said V-lorwer channel, shoulders of a Width equal tu 1. A rake comprisinga head plate formed with channel sections inthe top and bottom vlineal e edges thereof, theiwebof the'bottorn channel] section having ia-"plurality of rectangular spaced' holes therein for the reception 'of the tines oi Y the rake, said plate having aligned Iggactangulail holes therein adjacent the top channel section, l tines of rectangular cross section mounted in the first-named holes, shoulders on ithel `upper ends of the tines seated in the last-named holes, and a plate slidably mounted in said channels overlying the face `and shouldered portions of said tines. t

2. A rake comprising a rectangular plate, a handleA affixed to the central upper edge thereof, channel sectionsl inthe upper and lower edges of the plate, the lower channel and the face of the plate adjacent the upper channel having spaced aligned openings therein, tines mounted in the openings in said lower channel, shoulders on the upper ends of said tines protruding through the openings in the facevof the plate, and a second plate constituting -a keeper vslid- Iably engaged with the ilanges of the channels and faces of the tines and overlying the shouldered portions thereof.

3. A rake comprising a rectangular plate, a

that of the tines on the upper ends thereof en- .zgaged in said openings in the plate, and a pair of plates slidably mounted in said channels over the faces of the tines and above the shouldered portions thereof, and spring latches for the re tention of said plates.

4.,.A rake comprising a head plate, a channel in the bottom edge thereof, said plate and said Alower channel having spaced openings therein,

tines mounted in the openings in said channel, right v'angle bends in the upper ends of said tines vprotruding through the openings in the plate to restrain movement thereof. a removable cover plate engaged vIcy said channel, means on said head plate to restrain axial movement of said cover plate, and means cn said head plate to restrain transaxial movement of said cover plate,

. 5. A sweep type rake comprising a head plate.

s the lupper channel, tines engaged in the open- Y ings ingthe 'lowerchannel a right angle lcop `in each .tine adjacent the upper 'end thereof protruding respectively through the openings in said plate, the iree'end of the tine above the loop being engaged with the face of said head plate within the upper channel, a plate in said channels retaining the 'looped tines Within said openings, and spring latches in the ends of said plate to restrain axial movement thereof.

l ARTHUR J. ZEMAN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

Greenwood Dec. 29, 1936 

